Device for dispensing a medium

ABSTRACT

A device for dispensing a medium is disclosed. The device comprises an elongated body including a chamber for containing a medium and an outlet through which the medium exits the device into an oral or nasal opening. A dispensing system selectively places the chamber and the outlet in communication, causing medium to flow out of the device.

BACKGROUND

Smoking is a national and global epidemic. Tobacco companies manufacturefive and a half trillion cigarettes a year. That is nearly 1,000cigarettes for every man, woman, and child on the planet. Globalconsumption of cigarettes has been rising steadily since theirintroduction at the beginning of the 20^(th) century. While consumptionis leveling off and even decreasing in some countries, worldwide morepeople are smoking, and smokers are smoking more cigarettes. The numberof smokers will increase mainly due to the expansion of the world'spopulation. By 2030 there will be at least another 2 billion people inthe world (Census Bureau). Even if prevalence rates fall, the absolutenumber of smokers will increase.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 70% of smokers want toquit smoking, and 35% attempt to quit every year. Unfortunately, fewerthan 5% of those smokers attempting to quit succeed. The number onerecommended therapy for smokers desiring to quit is Nicotine ReplacementTherapy (also known as NRT). The most common delivery methods fornicotine are a pill/lozenge, a patch, or a gum. However, these therapiesdo nothing to address the behavioral addiction of smoking.

The average smoker smokes 15 cigarettes a day and takes an average of 10“drags” or inhalations per cigarette. Thus the behavioral addiction isreinforced in a smoker's body 150 times per day every day for as manyyears as the smoker has had the habit. The hand-to-mouth tactileexperience of smoking, oral fixation, deep inhalation, sensation ofsmoke hitting the back of the throat, and the exhalation are allbehavioral traits that smokers are addicted to experiencing during theact of smoking. Further, the ritual of smoking is associated witheveryday events: after a meal, at coffee breaks, driving or riding in acar, stressful events, etc. While the dopamine “high” that nicotineprovides is addicting, a therapy for addressing the behavioral addictionis also needed.

SUMMARY

The inventor has recognized and appreciated a need for a therapy foraddressing the behavioral addiction of smoking. More generally, theinventor has recognized the advantages of a device capable of deliveringa medium, such as an inhalable, ingestible or absorbable medium, that isuseful in such a therapy. Such a device is capable of being used for anynumber of different applications besides smoking cessation therapy.

In one exemplary embodiment, a device for dispensing a medium includesan elongated body with a chamber for containing a medium and an outletconfigured for delivering the medium to an oral or nasal opening. Thedevice also includes a dispensing system for selectively placing thechamber in communication with the outlet. The dispensing system includesa button that is selectively moveable in a direction transverse to theelongated body to actuate dispensing of the medium from the chamber andthrough the outlet.

In another embodiment, a device for dispensing a medium includes anelongated body having a chamber for containing a medium and an outletconfigured for delivering the medium to an oral or nasal opening. Thedevice also includes a dispensing system for placing the chamber incommunication with the outlet, the dispensing system being selectivelyactuable by a substantially constant force button.

In a further embodiment, a device for dispensing a medium includes anelongated chamber section for containing a medium and an elongateddispensing section. The dispensing section includes an outlet configuredfor delivering the medium through an oral or nasal opening, a conduit incommunication with the outlet, a valve, a button moveable in a directiontransverse to the dispensing section, and a linkage operativelyassociated with the valve and the button. The elongated chamber sectionand the elongated dispensing section are releasably attachable inend-to-end relation to form an elongated body. The valve is openable inresponse to movement of the button in the transverse direction, causingmedium in the chamber to flow through the valve, along the conduit andout of the device via the outlet.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing conceptsand additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided suchconcepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being partof the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, allcombinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of thisdisclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subjectmatter disclosed herein.

The foregoing and other aspects, embodiments, and features of thepresent teachings can be more fully understood from the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the device;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the device in a closed position;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the device in an open position;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the actuator button, linkage, andconduit in a closed position;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the actuator button, linkage, andconduit in an open position;

FIG. 6 shows a view of the linkage;

FIG. 7 shows a sectioned perspective view of a mouthpiece end of thedevice;

FIG. 8 shows a graph of actuation force versus actuation displacement;and

FIGS. 9 a-9 b are perspective and sectional illustrations, respectively,of a dip tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that aspects of the invention are describedherein with reference to the figures, which show illustrativeembodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention. Theillustrative embodiments described herein are not necessarily intendedto show all aspects of the invention, but rather are used to describe afew illustrative embodiments. Thus, aspects of the invention are notintended to be construed narrowly in view of the illustrativeembodiments. It should be appreciated, then, that the various conceptsand embodiments introduced above and those discussed in greater detailbelow may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosedconcepts and embodiments are not limited to any particular manner ofimplementation. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of theinvention may be used alone or in any suitable combination with otheraspects of the invention.

A device for dispensing a medium, such as an inhalable, ingestible orabsorbable medium, includes an elongated body having a chamber forcontaining the medium and a dispensing system for selectively deliveringthe medium out of an outlet and through a nasal or oral opening. Thedispensing system may include a valve, an actuator for the valve, theoutlet, and a conduit that allows communication between the valve andthe outlet. The actuator may include a linkage operatively connected tothe valve and a button that a user may selectively manipulate to openthe valve releasing the medium. The button may be located along thelength of the body between the opposed ends. The button, in certainembodiments, is positioned closer to one end than the other of theelongated body (e.g., closer to a mouthpiece or nasalpiece end) at alocation comparable to placement of the index or middle fingers if onewere holding the elongated body like a cigarette. Other locations of thebutton, however, are contemplated. While in a closed position, thebutton may project from the surface of the body, be flush mounted withthe surface of the body, or be depressed below the surface of the body.The button is arranged to be pressed, or otherwise actuated, in adirection transversely to the elongated body to open the valve. Otherdirectional movements of the button to dispense the medium arecontemplated as should be apparent to one of skill in the art. Thedispensing system may be configured so that a relatively constant forcemoves the button from the closed position to the open position,actuating discharge of the medium.

The elongated body may have a tubular shape, similar in size and lengthto a conventional cigarette so that it may be held between the index ormiddle fingers like a cigarette providing a tactile experience likesmoking, although other shapes and sizes of an elongated body arecontemplated as should be apparent to one of skill in the art. Theelongated body may be a single, unitary structure, or may include two ormore separable and, optionally, reconnectable body sections. One or bothof such reconnectable body sections may be reusable. At least one of themedium chamber and the dispensing system may reside in separate bodysections or may include aspects that span between different bodysections. Either of the medium chamber section or the dispensing systemsection may be reusable; for example, and without limitation, when amedium chamber section is spent, it may be removed and replaced by afresh medium section. Rather than discarding the spent medium section,it may be refilled and then reconnected to the dispensing systemsection. The dispensing system may provide a continuous, metered,pulsatile or other dispensing discharge of the medium as should beapparent to one of skill in the art. A dispersing feature may beprovided in the device to influence the properties of the medium that isdischarged. For example, and without limitation, the dispersing featuremay break up the medium into finer constituents or change the flowcharacteristics or pattern of the medium. Arrangements may be providedin the device to mix air with the medium prior to exiting the body. Themedium may include nicotine, stimulant, medication, antioxidant,breath-freshener, mixtures of any of the foregoing, or any otherdesirable medium, and may further include a propellant. The medium isnot limited to a particular composition, nor to a form or size of themedium. The medium may be formulated for inhalation, ingestion,absorption or other type of administration as should be apparent to oneof skill in the art, and the location of target effect of the medium(e.g., oral cavity, nasal cavity, throat, lungs, stomach) is notnecessarily a limitation of the invention. Further, other forms ofmedium that may be administered to a person are contemplated as shouldbe apparent to one of skill in the art. The chamber may include two ormore chambers containing the same or different mediums. The latterarrangement allowing different mediums to be mixed together prior toadministration to the user, or for the user to select amongst differentmediums, or combinations of mediums, to dispense.

The device 1 for dispensing a medium illustrated in the figures includesan elongated body 4 with a chamber 18 for containing a medium and adispensing system for selectively dispensing the medium from the chamber18 through the elongated body 4 to an outlet 12 at an end of the device1 that is configured for insertion through an oral or nasal opening. Asillustrated, the outlet 12 may include a mouthpiece located at an endface of the elongated body 4, although other locations of an outlet 12are contemplated as should be apparent to one of skill in the art. Thedispensing system includes a button 10 that projects from the surface ofthe elongated body 4 and is configured for movement in a transversedirection towards the elongated body 4 to actuate the dispensing systemas described in further detail below. The button 10 is located closer tothe outlet end than the opposite end of the elongated body 4, preferablyin a position comparable to the locations of the index and/or middlefinger if the elongated body 4 is held in the manner of a cigarette.Although the button 10 has an oblong, football-like shape, so as to fitwithin the confines of the elongated body when depressed, other buttonshapes may be employed as should be apparent to one of skill in the art.

The chamber 18 may be in the shape of a cylinder, as illustrated, andincludes a closed end wall, a side wall and an open end that may befitted with a valve stem seal 27. A cap 50 may be provided about theopen end of the chamber, with the valve stem seal 27 located in the capas is shown. The cap may be crimped to, screwed on, or otherwiseconnected with, the chamber. The chamber may further include a dip tube52, as is shown, that extends from at or near the chamber bottom to theunderside of the cap. Openings may be provided through the sidewall ofthe dip tube to allow the medium to pass into the interior of the diptube. In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 9 a-9 b, openings 54 and56 are provided near the bottom and near the top of the dip tube,respectively, allowing the medium to be dispensed from the chamberregardless of the orientation of the device. Although larger openingsare illustrated near the bottom as compared to the openings at the topof the dip tube, other size arrangements are contemplated as should beapparent to one of skill in the art. Openings also could be provided atthe top and/or bottom ends of the dip tube through which the medium maypass into the dip tube interior.

The dispensing system includes a valve stem 26 that is moveable insealing contact through the seal 27. The valve stem 26 is moveablebetween a first position where an opening 28 to a lumen 29 in the valvestem 26 is not in communication with the chamber 18 and a secondposition where the lumen opening 28 is in communication with the chamber18. As shown, the lumen opening 28 is blocked by the seal 27, or ispositioned rearward (external) of the seal 27, in the first position,but is forward (or internal) of the seal 27 in the second position. Insuch a second position, the medium flows from the chamber 18, throughthe opening 28 and down the valve stem lumen 29. In contrast, in thefirst position, communication between the valve stem lumen 29 and thechamber 18 is prevented. The valve stem lumen 29 may extend onlypartially along the length of the valve stem 26, as illustrated,although a longer or shorter lumen may be employed as should be apparentto one of skill in the art. The portion of the valve stem 26 locatedwithin the chamber may include a shoulder 25 that is operativelyconnected with a spring 30 positioned in the chamber 18, biasing thevalve stem 26 into the second position. Further, a length of the valvestem 26 located within the chamber 18 may be selected to facilitatestability of the valve stem 26 in the medium environment and duringdispensing of the medium. Other valve arrangements may be employed asshould be apparent to one of skill in the art. As shown, the spring anda portion of the valve stem may be located in the dip tube.

The button 10 is mounted in an opening through the elongated body 4,which may include structure for guiding movement of the button 10 as itis depressed transversely into the elongated body 4. The button 10 isoperatively connected by a linkage 22 to the valve stem 26. The linkage22 translates transverse movement of the button 10 relative to the axisof the elongated body 4 into axial movement that advances the valve stem26 into the chamber 18. The linkage 22 may be connected directly to thevalve stem 26, or indirectly such as via an actuator slide 24 as shown.In either case, the valve stem 26 moves towards and away from thechamber 18 in response to movement of the linkage 22. Various linkagearrangements may be employed to translate the transverse movement of theactuator button to axial movement of the valve stem 26, as should beapparent to one of skill in the art. Representative is a crank andslider linkage including a fixed pivot for anchoring the linkage 22 anda moving pivot for translating the valve stem 26 into and out of thechamber 18. The head of a first link 34 is pivotally connected to thetail of the second link 36. The head of the second link 36 is pivotallyconnected to the valve stem 26, in this case indirectly through theactuator slide, and is the axially moving pivot of the crank and slidelinkage. The tail of the first link 34 is fixed to the elongated body 4,allowing pivoting but constraining axial movement. The illustratedlinkage is, essentially, a pair of crank and slider linkages that arelocated, respectively, on opposite sides of the axis of the elongatedbody and integrated together. With respect to the first link 34, a crossarm extends between the tail of the link pairs. The cross arm is fixedin a recessed mount formed in the elongated body. The respective headsof the first links converge inwardly to form a pivot post which isreceived within a clevis formed by the inwardly converging aspects ofthe respective tails of the second links. A pin extends through holes inthe clevis and pivot post connecting the first and second link pairs.The respective heads of the second links are spaced apart and eachinclude a hole for receiving a pin projecting away from the actuatorslide. As should be apparent to one of skill in the art, the location ofthe pivot post and clevis could be switched between the first and secondlinks and, similarly, the location of the pin and holes between theactuator slide and second links could be reversed.

The junction of the first and second links, 34 and 36, is configured forslidable movement relative to the underside of button 10. The linkjunction may freely move against the underside of the button or,preferably, a guide may be provided in the bottom of the button. Forexample, and without limitation, a pair of spaced ribs may extendbeneath the button providing a channel in which the link junction,defined by the yoke in the illustrated embodiment, may axially slide. Apair of spaced cross-arms may act as stops of axial movement of the linkjunction. Other arrangements for guiding axial movement of the linkjunction relative to the button are contemplated as should beappreciated by one of skill in the art.

A conduit 20 extends between an outlet of the valve stem lumen 31 andthe outlet 12 (e.g., mouthpiece) of the elongated body 4, providing apathway for the medium to exit the device 1. The conduit 20 may be atube, and in the illustrated embodiment is connected to the actuatorslide 24 which, in turn, is connected to the valve stem 26. In thisembodiment, the actuator slide 24 includes an opening that receives anend of the conduit tube 20 and an end of the valve stem 26, placing thetwo flow lines in communication. As shown, the tube may be arranged tomove towards and away from the chamber 18 in concert with the actuatorslide 24. In other embodiments, the tube may be fixed in positionrelative to the chamber 18 for example where the outlet end of the valvestem 31 is telescopingly arranged with the conduit tube 20.Alternatively, the conduit 20 could be a duct formed in the elongatedbody that extends from the outlet of the valve stem 31 to the mouthpieceor nasalpiece of the elongated body. A further embodiment includes acombination of duct and tube running from the area of the valve stem 26to the outlet 12 of the device. Alternatively, the valve stem 26 couldextend completely from the chamber 18 to the outlet 12 of the elongatedbody 4 with the extension of the valve stem 26 constituting a conduit. Arelief may be formed in the elongated body to support the conduit tube,particularly at outlet portion of the device.

As the conduit tube 20 lies in the direction of movement of theactuator, specifically the path of the linkage 22 and potentially of thebutton 10, both the linkage 22 and the conduit tube 20 may be configuredto limit interference therebetween. As illustrated, for example, thelengthwise arms of the links 34 and 36 are thin and spaced from itsmirror image counterpart, providing an opening through which the conduittube 20 extends. Additionally, the conduit tube 20 may be contoured toavoid blocking the path of the links 34 and 36 as they descend into theelongated body in response to transverse actuation of the button 10. Forexample, and without limitation, the conduit tube 20 may have anon-linear section, such as a deflection, to accommodate movement of thelinkage 22. In the illustrated approach, the conduit tube 20 includes aU-shaped bump out that opens towards the path of transverse movement ofthe link junction and button 10. The bump out may be supported by thefloor of the interior of the elongated body as shown, although such anarrangement is not necessarily a feature of the invention. Other designsfor optimizing the range of motion of the linkage 22 within the setconfines of the elongated body 4 are contemplated as should be apparentto one of skill in the art.

The device may be arranged to automatically close the valve and returnthe button 10 to the starting or closed position. As shown, for example,the chamber 18 may include a spring 30 that biases against the valvestem 26, for example against shoulder 25 as shown, urging the stem andultimately the linkage and button operatively associated therewith backto the starting or closed position upon release of the actuating force.In another embodiment, the linkage 22 or button 10 could be biased tourge these components back to the starting or closed position. Otherarrangements for returning the dispensing system to the starting orclosed position are contemplated as should be apparent to one of skillin the art.

The medium dispensing device may be arranged to supplement the flow ofthe medium through the elongated body. For example, and withoutlimitation, an air bypass system may be configured in the device whichmay include one or more vents 16 for drawing ambient air into andthrough the device. The vents 16 may open into channels 32 that extendthrough the elongated body and end at or near the outlet of the device.As shown, the channels 32 may exit through the end face of the device onopposite sides of the conduit tube 20. Other outlet configurations ofthe channels 32 are contemplated as should be apparent to one of skillin the art. Alternatively, the vents 16 and/or channels 32 leading fromthe vents 16 may connect with the conduit 20, so that the supplementalairflow joins the medium as it courses down the conduit 20 towards thedevice outlet. In a still further embodiment, the vents 16 may open intothe interior of the elongated body 4 containing the dispensing system.Channels 32 provided at a downstream end of the dispensing system, suchas in the area of the mouthpiece or nasalpiece surrounding the conduittube 20, provide a pathway for the bypass air to flow out of the device.In certain embodiments, the dimensions and arrangement of the bypasssystem are configured so that the flow rate and/or volume of airflowemulates, together with the medium, the airflow through a cigarette. Thedevice may be configured so that bypass air is drawn through vents intothe device by a venturi effect of the medium flowing through theconduit, eliminating the need for the user to inhale to get the bypassair to flow.

The device may further include one or more features for dispersing themedium as it is dispensed to a user, or otherwise influencing the flowcharacteristics or pattern of the exiting medium. As illustrated, adispersion screen 14 may be located at the mouthpiece or nasalpiece, orelsewhere in the device. The dispersion screen 14 may be in the form ofa mesh, foam, or any other appropriate material or construction. Thedispersion screen may be treated or coated to enhance one or moredispersion properties. An annular groove or other attachment feature maybe provided in the mouthpiece/nasalpiece or other elongated bodylocation to mount or otherwise secure the dispersion feature.Alternatively, or in addition to the dispersion screen, the outlet ofthe conduit and/or of the bypass system may be configured to affect thedispersion characteristics of the dispensed medium. Further, an orificemay be located anywhere along the conduit path to influence dispersionproperties of the medium.

As observed earlier, the elongated body 4 may be provided as a unitarystructure or as separate body sections. As illustrated, the bodysections may be divided between a chamber section 6 and a dispensingsection 8. Here, the chamber section 6 includes a neck that isengageably received within a mouth of the dispensing section 8. Theconnection between the neck and mouth may be threadable, snap-fitting,bayonet-coupling, or other customary arrangement and may be releasableor permanent as should be apparent to one of skill in the art. Morespecifically, as is shown, a necked portion of the cap may be capturedbetween half-sections of the dispensing section in a clamshell-typearrangement. The chamber section 6 may include a peel away or pierceablelid, or a plug, that covers the outlet of the valve stem 26 to preventinadvertent emptying of the chamber. The lid or plug may be removed whenthe chamber section and dispensing section are assembled, or the valvestem 26 may pierce or otherwise extend through the covering when the twosections are united. The chamber section 6 may include a closed orificethat may be opened to replenish the medium.

In one particular embodiment, the dispensing system is configured sothat the button is actuable by a substantially constant or near constantforce. Depending on the designed mechanical advantage of the linkage andthe stiffness of the included spring, it is possible that the forcerequired to actuate the button could slightly decrease or increaseduring the travel of the button from the closed to the open position. Arepresentative actuation behavior is illustrated in FIG. 8 whichpresents a graph with a vertical axis for the percentage of the initialactuation force and a horizontal axis for the percentage of theactuation displacement. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuationforce decreases slightly from the initial actuation force to the finalactuation force during actuation of the button and compression ofspring, due to an increase in mechanical advantage over the distance oftravel. This is in contrast to traditional spring systems where theforce generally increases linearly with increasing displacement duringactuation.

While the present teachings have been described in conjunction withvarious embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the presentteachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary,the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, andequivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way ofexample only.

1. A device for dispensing a medium, comprising: an elongated bodyincluding a chamber for containing a medium and an outlet configured todeliver the medium through an oral or nasal opening; and a dispensingsystem for selectively placing the chamber in communication with theoutlet, wherein the dispensing system includes a button that isselectively moveable in a direction transverse to the elongated body toactuate dispensing of the medium from the chamber through the outlet. 2.The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing system includes a conduitand a linkage operatively associated with the button, the conduitextending through the linkage and including a contoured portion toaccommodate a path of the linkage.
 3. The device of claim 2, where thecontoured portion of the conduit includes a deflection.
 4. The device ofclaim 3, wherein the deflection is U-shaped and opens towards the pathof the linkage.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the linkage includes apair of links joined at a moving pivot, the pivot moving transverselyand axially in response to transverse movement of the button.
 6. Thedevice of claim 2, further including a valve operatively associated withthe linkage, the valve being placed in and out of communication with thechamber in response to movement of the linkage.
 7. The device of claim6, further including an actuator slide moveable towards and away fromthe chamber in response to movement of the linkage, the actuator slideconnecting the valve and the conduit in fluid communication.
 8. A devicefor dispensing a medium, comprising: an elongated body including achamber for containing a medium and an outlet configured to deliver themedium through an oral or nasal opening; and a dispensing system forselectively placing the chamber in communication with the outlet,wherein the dispensing system includes a substantially constant forcebutton.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the button is operativelyassociated with a linkage, the linkage including a pivot junction thatis movable transversely and axially in response to movement of thebutton.
 10. The device of claim 9, where the pivot junction is moveableagainst and along an underside of the button.
 11. The device of claim 9,wherein the linkage includes a fixed link and a moveable link, themoveable link operatively connected with a valve that places thedispensing system into and out of communication with the chamber.
 12. Adevice for dispensing a medium, comprising: an elongated chamber sectionfor containing a medium; an elongated dispensing section including anoutlet configured to deliver the medium through an oral or nasalopening, a conduit in communication with the outlet, a valve, a buttonmoveable in a direction transverse to the dispensing section, and alinkage operatively associated with the valve and the button; whereinthe elongated chamber section and the elongated dispensing section arereleasably attachable in end-to-end relation to form an elongated body,with the valve being opened in response to movement of the button in thetransverse direction causing medium to flow from the chamber through thevalve, along the conduit and out of the device via the outlet.
 13. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the elongated dispensing section includes afirst end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, and thebutton is moveable through an opening in the sidewall.
 14. The device ofclaim 13, wherein the valve includes a valve stem having an end that islocated in the chamber and an inlet opening located proximal of thevalve stem end, the inlet opening being moveable into communication withthe chamber in response to transverse movement of the button.
 15. Thedevice of claim 14, wherein an actuator slide is moveable towards andaway from the chamber in response to movement of the linkage, theactuator slide connecting the valve stem and the conduit in fluidcommunication.
 16. The device of claim 14 further including a springlocated in the chamber that biases the valve stem away from the chamber.17. The device of claim 13, wherein the conduit extends through thelinkage and includes a contoured portion to accommodate a path of thelinkage.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the contoured portion ofthe conduit includes a deflection.
 19. The device of claim 18, whereinthe deflection is U-shaped and opens towards the path of the linkage.20. The device of claim 13, wherein the linkage includes a pair of firstlinks and second links, with each of the pair of first and second linksarranged on opposite sides of the dispensing section, each first linkhaving a head that converges inwardly, and each second link having atail that converges inwardly, the respective inwardly converging headsand tails forming a pivot junction between the pairs of first and secondlinks.